Will the Post 9/11 GI Bill Pay for Both Culinary School and a Master’s Degree?

Q: Hi, I am planning to attend Culinary school for 9 months (July 2011-April 2012) and then attend another school for 2 years master degree program (Aug 2012-2014). Would the GI Bill cover it all? I have served for 3 years and I have selected Post GI Bill which supports housing.

A: Right now, it most likely would not cover your 9-month culinary school. Before October 1st, the Post 9/11 GI Bill usually covers only degree programs and some non-degree programs if they are taught at degree-producing schools. It sounds like your culinary course is more like a vocational-type course.

However, once the changes from the passage of the GI Bill 2.0 kick in on October 1st, then the Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay for your culinary course. So you may want to start your course after October 1st if you want to use your GI Bill to pay for it.

I’m confused on your program though. To get a master’s degree, you first need a bachelor’s degree and that takes generally four years to get. You are going to try to get a master’s degree with only a 9-month course behind you or do you already have a bachelor’s degree ?

Or is the program you are talking about a Master Culinary degree? If so, that is a different type of degree and not a master’s degree in the true academic sense of the word. With your initial 9-months and an additional 2-years in Culinary, you would have a total of three years that you could probably apply toward a bachelor’s degree, if you do not already have one. You have 36 months of Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlements which could get you through four years of school.